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House In Multiple Occupancy

From 1st October 2018 the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018 came into force.

Accordingly if you operate a House in Multiple Occupation that is let to five or more tenants you must have applied for and been granted a licence before that date.

Operating without one is a strict liability criminal offence much like driving a car without a licence. The operator will be guilty of the offence if they could not produce upon request a valid licence.

Furthermore for the first time the new piece of legislation stipulates minimum room sizes. The prescribed sizes are 6.52 sq. m for a single person and 10.23 sq. m for a couple. If a room let for sleeping doesn't meet the minimum standard the licensee would be in breach and committing an offence.

All properties let to five or more people, who form two or more households, are subject to mandatory licensing. There are however a number of other different definitions of HMOs and for a definitive description of your circumstances, please see the link below for further information. Whatever your circumstance if you feel that your property falls into one of the definitions of a HMO you MUST contact the Council as it may need to be inspected.

What are the conditions of the licence?

The property is suitable for occupation by the number of people on the application

The minimum standards for room sizes of 6.52 sq. m for a single person and 10.23 sq. m for a couple has been met

The property has adequate facilities for the number of people on the application

That the proposed licence holder is a fit and proper person

The property management is satisfactory

What conditions may be attached to the licence?

Provision of a gas safety certificate if not provided with the application